Bottles for conditioning

[Brummy_Brewer]

I've been collecting green pint bottles to store and condition my first homebrew, but I recently read somewhere that you should use brown glass as green allows ultraviolet light to penetrate and can damage the beer.

Might seem like a stupid question but can I just condition and store the beer in the green bottles in a dark place?

 

[jamesb]

Yes. UV light can react with some of the hop compounds to create a taste that's often described as "skunky". Obviously a term borrowed from our friends across the pond as we don't have skunks in this country. I'd describe it as a bit like cat ****. This reaction is alledged to take seconds (I suspect it takes slightly longer over here if it's not sunny).

Brown glass stops the UV light from penetrating; green, blue and clear glass won't.

You could store the bottles in a dark place away from light if you want to use them.

Start collecting Magners bottles from pubs - they're often happy to get rid of them.

 

[falafael]

i've been using green bottles to store my lager in sinice i started up again, and have never had a problem, and theres some i am drinking from november last year, i keep em out the light in spare room, and continue to use them, so go ahead and use em mate, i keep the brown ones for bitter, then i can keep tabs on whats what!!

 

[jamesb]

How long before Aleman jumps in with tales of 3-methyl-2-butene-1-thiol, MBT and isohumulone :lol:

 

[commsbiff]

I often wonder how much UV can get into my FV? It's not completely opaque (very nearly though), and fermentation takes place in my kitchen.

 

[jamesb]

I often wonder how much UV can get into my FV? It's not completely opaque (very nearly though), and fermentation takes place in my kitchen.

I've never noticed a problem, but I cover mine with a black binbag now anyway.

 

[Brummy_Brewer]

My wife and I used to regularly drink magners - I've thrown away tons of bottles in the past.

I'll see if I can get some from the local.

I might also experiment with a few green bottles and see how it turns out.